Improvement in fastenings for lacing boots



`T. K. KEiTH. Fastenings for Larcing Bouts, &c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS K. KEITH, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FASTENINGS FOR LACING BOOTS, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,913, dated Jarnary 27, 1874; applicatn n led January 12, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, THOMAS K. KEITH,of Haverhill, in the county of Essex and State cf Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Fastenings for Lacing Boots; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connectionwith the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

The invention relates to a new construction` of boot-fastenings, or to a new method of connectin g the lacings of a lacing boot.

In my invention, I run 011e part of the lacing through all the holes upon one side of the Y boot, and the other 1^ art through the holes on ings, the boot may be fastened upon the foot,

as snugly or tightly as may be desirable.

In this method of fastening the boot-lacings, they appear to cross, as in ordinary lacings, but do not, in reality, cross, and therefore do not lhave to be withdrawn from the holes to apply or remove the boot.

The invention consists in the construction of the fastenings, and in the method of fastening thus generally described.

The drawing represents a boot having fastenings embodying my invention.

Figure l shows the boot in elevation. 2 is an enlarged view ofthe button-hook.

a denotes the upper of the boot 5 b c, the eyeleted edges 5 d, the lacing-holes at one side of the opening e,- and j' the corresponding holes atY the opposite side. Through the holes d the part g of the lacing runs, and through the other holes f runs the other part hthereot'. To each loop or portion t' of the lacing g between holes d, a button, k, is fastened, the lacing passing through the button-eye; and projecting from each boot isahook, l, each hook, when the button is to be fastened, catching upon the loop m, formed by the portion of the lacing opposite to the hook.

It will readily be seen that all of the hooks may be easily engaged with the opposite loops and that the boot may be put on or removed very much quicker, and with lnuch less trouble, than in the ordinary manner of lacing boots. rIhe fastenin gs are strong, and present a neat and iinished appearance.

I claim- The button-hooks k lfastened upon and connectin g the side lacin gs, substantially as shown and described.

Fig.

THOMAS K. KEITH.

Iitnesses PORTER B. TowLE, CLARENCE C. HAR-DY. 

